Signs and Symptoms of Heat Stroke and In Home Elderly Care

The summer sun is hot and many parts of the country are experiencing severe heat waves. With the warm days of the season upon us, it is much easier to overextend ourselves, especially our elderly loved ones. No matter how much you prepare for the heat, there is always the possibility that your aging loved one could be negatively affected but the blistering summer sun. This is why it is so important to understand and be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of heat stroke to better prepare for immediate care when needed. Each person who suffers from heat stroke will experience it differently depending in a myriad of factors specific to their circumstances. Remember that the sooner you recognize the issue in your elderly loved one, the sooner you will be able to get help your senior needs.

The most common signs and symptoms of heat stroke include:

an abnormally high body temperature of about 105 degrees

disorientation and general confusion

throbbing headache

Speeding pulse/heartbeat

Having a hard time breathing including rapid or shallow breathing

Seizure

Red, hot, flushed dry skin with no sweating

Agitation or irritation

Dizziness and lightheadedness

Nausea and vomiting

Hallucinations

There are ways to beat the heat this summer and keeping your loved one cool is absolutely necessary to avoid a medical intervention due to a heat stroke. Keep your loved one in shade whenever possible. Remind your senior to wear light colored clothing and to keep a fan on them when inside. If you notice your loved seems excessively hot, try putting cool to lukewarm water on their skin. This should help to lower their body temperature to a comfortable and safer level.

In home elderly care from Senior Helpers of Germantown provides transportation to and from appointments, shopping and local events. A trusted caregiver will be able to keep your loved one cool by taking them to a mall or other air conditioned building. The highly trained and compassionate caregivers from Senior Helpers of Germantown understand and are able to quickly recognize the signs and symptoms of heat stroke.

If signs and symptoms of heat stroke should ever appear in your loved one, a dependable caregiver from Senior Helpers of Germantown will be able to take the appropriate steps to keeping your elderly loved one safe. You can trust they will take the right steps to making sure that 911 is called and that the right steps for stabilizing your loved one’s core temperature are taken.